A Contrast in Experiences

Despite the might of the Ford Motor Co and the breathtaking expertise of Multimatic, our time back in Canada with the Ford GT Mk IV felt a bit like being embedded in a skunkworks team. The track was amazing but tucked away, out of sight; the team quietly went about their business, logging data in silence, measuring tyre and track temperatures. No fuss. No showbiz. Just a badass car doing badass things away from the gaze of the world.

Welcome to COTA

This is different. We’re at Circuit of the Americas – a state-of-the-art F1 facility – and there are people and cars everywhere. Lavish hospitality, film crews, Bruno Senna, and a McLaren MP4/4 and MP4/5 making ears bleed as they warm through in a pit garage. The MP4/4 won 15 of 16 F1 races back in 1988, driven by Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost. It has irresistible star power, drawing attendees to this ‘Pure McLaren’ event like bees to honey.

Pure McLaren Event

These are McLaren’s best customers – those racing in their one-make series, or buyers of the Ultimate Series cars or their track-only hypercars. There are 20 Sennas gathered in the paddock, including some road-registered Senna GTRs, plus P1s and the wild 720S GT3X – a car that follows a similar approach to the Ford GT Mk IV.

Driving the Solus GT

Today, I am among my people: ultra-high-net-worth individuals. I’m here to drive McLaren’s newest track-only project, the Solus GT. However, the real top dog is the Triple F Collection, which has kindly allowed us to drive its Solus GT, finished in Gulf colours. These guys have all the hypercars and are officially my new favourite people.